Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-23
THE ONO CAMPAIGN.
Senator sherman says President Cleve-
lnnd is Poor Civil RI former.

Senator John Sherman made his first
speech in the Ohio campaign at Whining
ton, Ohio, Sept. -. He SAID
Tne democratic party tickled the re-
formers and mugwumps with a promise
of civil service reform, and Mr. Cleveland
was especially cOp.ous in his promises that
no one should be discharged for his poll
tics. The republican party with some
divisions, had supported, built mp and
maintained an excellent civil service, and,
in the main, had practiced upon the rule
that change, should not be made except
for cause. Gen. Grant had strongly urged
TINS policy and recommended Its appllCA-
ton to all the great Offices of the govern
ment. Congress was not so friendly, per
hapS, because members Of Congress had
large influence in making appointments
but "a civil service law was passed during
4 republican administration and some
progress was made IN what ] regard as
au important reform. What has been the
result uuder the new administration
Our democratic tric" - thought that Mr.
Cleveland was SLOW in m king removals,
but he has been rapid enough to subotan
TALLY change the whole civil service Of the
gov rumenr. Nearly every Office in the
IN service, substantially the whole
Official corps in the vast departments Of
the interior, the treasury and pOslOilice,
and, III IN main, the clerks and employees
in the various departments have been
changed during this administration. do
not hesitate to say that the service OF the
government has been greatly injured
thereby.
When some Of these changes were pro
posed to the Senate tor our confirmation
that body pectfully asked the president
tor his reasons for the change. In my judg-
ment, the president made a grave mistake
and departure from his promises when he
did not promptly and fairly state to the
Senate the causes of removal in each case.
He would have set an example which
would have been followed by his success
sors and would have placed the civil ser
vice of the government upon proper
basis. a reason stated by HIM t. the Sen
ate would have been received and acted
upon with the respect due to his position,
but, instead of that, he refused to give hi
reasons, and this left co ordinate depart
ment OF the government to conclude eth
er that he was insncere in his pretence
that he made 10 removals except FOR
cause, or that he regarded that dcclara
ton as made in pickwickian sense, to he
IN force when he wanted it and OF no az
count Wuen he did not want it. And now
| think | can fairly say, in view Of the cN
pereICe5 had, that President Cleveland
has not observed his pledge to support
either the rule ut civil service in his Hp-
pOiutmtnts, or 10 sustain tIe civil service
commission in lis recommendations
What else can he S0ld in favor Ot TINS
administration The highest compliment
it has received il that It ua, not been as
bad rs was expected. 1t has not stopped
the rain and sunshine, the ordinary cour.e
of the crops, or the cob aud flow of Du-i
ness 1t has not been able TO repeal the
republican laws upon which our indus
tries rest. take il that this is because
we stll have IA republican Senate, and Il
democratic House of h -pfe>eutatives has
M-'cr set been able to agree upon any
political meteu,e.
|, I'd. -a u ne utherdty py II. Powell
in his ~" .c.I al tia ulit-u:
"Cu'} 'he iepuu lcau party cIur l"'o
pu,tr Ntt one acre - the public .tid, f. -
ever been granted to railroad, OF 40 r
CorUoratiOuS."
Now this is a great surprise to ne, Tor |
have been long in Congress, entering il
$3.50, and have always understood tuat
the policy of granting lands to the rail
roads, or to States for railroads, WAS start
ed in 1851 by the grant of immense and
very valuable tracts of land in Illinois by
the democratic party, led by Nh Douglas
aad that at every Congress- atterWHrd
and prior to LincCln's election, under
democratic rule and with the approval OF
a democratic president large grants ul
public lands have been repeatedly made
to AID in building railroads and THIS 100
when and after two democratic presidents
mad vetoed the grant OF public lands TO
settlers for homes teads. There was 40
division on party lines as TO he railroad
grants, but 1t WAS deemed good policy To
grant alternate sections OF lam To the
States when the land was in State, and
to corporations when the land was in ter
ritories, to secure the construction of
railroads through vast unsettled regions;
and | believe, on the whole, though in
some cases the grants were improHlient,
the policy was a wise one. The govern
meHt lost nothing as the reserved lands
were doubled IN price.